Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the murder a month ago of journalist Gauri Lankeshis why noted southern actor Prakash Raj says he wants to return his five national awards.

Gauri Lankesh, a critic of right-wing ideology and a fierce advocate of secularism, was shot as she returned home early in September from her office in Bengaluru. The 55-year-old published a weekly paper.

Nobody has been arrested yet; the killer is seen wearing a helmet on security cameras at her home.

After her murder, some Twitter users abused her for her leftist ideals and celebrated her killing. PM Modi follows some of those accounts. Ms Lankesh's murder and the invective against her triggered national protests which alleged that her killing proves an intolerance of dissent.

Journalist Gauri Lankesh was murdered last month at her Bengaluru home."Some of those celebrating this ghastly episode are being followed by none other than Mr Modi himself. This is what worries me, where is our country headed to?" Prakash Raj said yesterday in Bengaluru, according to The Deccan Chronicle.

He began his career in Kannada films but has acted in Tamil and Malayalam movies too.

BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli, however, said that Prakash Raj should target his anger at the Congress because it runs Karnataka. "It is a case of misplaced priorities because what this gentleman should have done is actually ask the question to the Congress government of the state because the police comes under the state. Why haven't they found the killers?" Mr Kohli said to news agency ANI.

The 52-year-old was a close friend of Ms Lankesh, reported the Hindustan Times.

Different newspapers said that he then said that the PM's behavior is like an actor trying to please his fans. "He is trying to become a bigger actor than me," Prakash Raj reportedly said.